System and method for protecting containers from damage during loading

Abstract

In order to protect the side walls of a container during loading, in one design, a hopper has one or more barrier wall pairs attached to the hopper walls at the end adjacent to a container. As the hopper is moved forward the barrier walls of the barrier wall pair become closely adjacent to the walls of the container protecting them from damage and helping enable material to be pushed into the container. In a variation, an assembly of barrier wall pairs is set inside a hopper and material is deposited between the barrier walls of the barrier wall pair and then the assembly is moved forward into the container, the material being pushed along with the barrier wall pair into the container. In another variation, the barrier walls may be hinged to the hopper walls. More than one barrier wall pair can be used. Where there are two pairs, the second pair can be hinged to the first so that the second pair can be extended or rotated into a storage position. In a further variation, barrier walls on opposite sides of the hopper are of different length and/or barrier wall pairs are of unequal length.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for loading a container comprising:
 (a) providing a loading system comprising;
 (i) a hopper, the hopper having spaced apart side walls and a floor, the side walls and the floor having a substantially co-equal length and defining a first end and a second end of the hopper, the second end being open for communication with a container for loading material from the hopper into the container; 
 
 a barrier wall assembly comprising;
 (ii) first and second spaced apart barrier walls defining a first barrier wall pair, each of the first and second barrier walls having a selected length and being configured to fit into the hopper with the first and second barrier walls extending lengthwise of the hopper and proximate respective side walls of the hopper; 
 (iii) a ram attachable to the barrier wall pair at one or more selected points along the length of the barrier wall pair, the ram extending across the barrier wall pair and defining a load space as an area between the first barrier wall pair from the ram toward the second end of the hopper; and 
 (iv) a motive force mechanism that moves the barrier wall assembly lengthwise of the hopper; 
 
 (b) loading material, which is to be loaded into a container, into the load space; 
 (c) moving the barrier wall assembly under power of the motive force mechanism so that the barrier wall pair extends beyond the second end of the hopper a selected distance into a container, the ram thereby pushing material contained in the load space from the hopper into such a container while the material remains substantially between the barrier walls; and 
 (d) moving the barrier wall assembly back into the hopper; 
 whereby material contained in the load space is deposited into a container while the barrier wall pair is the selected distance inside such a container thereby to protect walls of such a container as the material is moved into such a container, 
 wherein the selected length of the first barrier wall is different from the selected length of the second barrier wall, and in the step of moving the barrier wall assembly a selected distance into the hopper, the first barrier wall extends the selected distance into the hopper, and the second barrier wall extends less than the selected distance into the hopper. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein in the step of moving the barrier wall assembly, the barrier wall assembly is moved by moving the barrier wall assembly on a rail system disposed along the floor of the hopper with the first and second spaced apart barrier walls mounted on the rail system for moving the barrier wall assembly in a lengthwise direction with respect to the hopper. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein during the step of moving the barrier wall assembly, the rail system is extended a selected distance beyond the second end of the hopper to allow the first barrier wall pair to move partially or completely beyond the second end of the hopper into a container. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein in step of moving the barrier wall assembly back into the hopper, the motive force mechanism provides a force for pulling the barrier wall assembly back into the hopper. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein there is a step of coupling the motive force mechanism to the ram so as to push and pull the ram and thereby the barrier wall assembly. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a step of attaching the ram to one of the selected points along the length of the first barrier wall pair. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , the system further comprises a mechanism that attaches the ram to the one or more selected points alongside members of the ram that are adjacent mating connecting points on the barrier walls. 
     
     
       8. A method for loading a container comprising:
 (a) providing a loading system comprising;
 (i) a hopper, the hopper having spaced apart side walls and a floor, the side walls and the floor having a substantially co-equal length and defining a first end and a second end of the hopper, the second end being open for communication with a container for loading material from the hopper into the container; 
 
 a barrier wall assembly comprising;
 (ii) first and second spaced apart barrier walls defining a first barrier wall pair, each of the first and second barrier walls having a selected length and being configured to fit into the hopper with the first and second barrier walls extending lengthwise of the hopper and proximate respective side walls of the hopper; 
 (iii) a ram attachable to the barrier wall pair at one or more selected points along the length of the barrier wall pair, the ram extending across the barrier wall pair and defining a load space as an area between the first barrier wall pair from the ram toward the second end of the hopper; and 
 (iv) a motive force mechanism that moves the barrier wall assembly lengthwise of the hopper; 
 
 (b) loading material, which is to be loaded into a container, into the load space; 
 (c) moving the barrier wall assembly under power of the motive force mechanism so that the barrier wall pair extends beyond the second end of the hopper a selected distance into a container, the ram thereby pushing material contained in the load space from the hopper into such a container while the material remains substantially between the barrier walls; and 
 (d) moving the barrier wall assembly back into the hopper; 
 whereby material contained in the load space is deposited into a container while the barrier wall pair is the selected distance inside such a container thereby to protect walls of such a container as the material is moved into such a container, wherein the loading system further comprises a second barrier wall pair with barrier walls thereof hinged to respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair such that the barrier walls of the second barrier wall pair, and there is a step of rotating the second barrier walls to either an extended position to further extend the barrier wall assembly or to a folded position adjacent the respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein in the step of rotating the second barrier walls they are rotated when loading a twenty foot container to the folded position providing for a combined length of the first and second barrier wall pairs of not more than twenty feet, and when loading a forty foot container the second barrier walls are rotated to the extended position where the combined length of the first and second barrier wall pairs is greater than twenty feet and no more than forty feet. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  wherein the length of the barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair is selected either to accommodate loading into a twenty foot container or a forty foot container. 
     
     
       11. A method for loading a container comprising:
 (a) providing a combined hopper and attached barrier wall assembly loading system comprising; 
 a hopper, the hopper having spaced apart side walls and a floor, the side walls and the floor having a substantially co-equal length and defining a first end and a second end of the hopper, the second end being open for communication with a container for loading material from the hopper into the container; 
 first and second spaced apart barrier walls each having a selected length and each barrier wall being attached to the second end of one of the side walls of the hopper and extending lengthwise beyond the second end of the hopper toward a container thereby defining a first barrier wall pair; 
 (a) a motive force mechanism that moves the hopper toward a container; 
 (b) loading material, which is to be loaded into a container, into the hopper; 
 (c) relatively moving the hopper with respect to a container into a position to move material from the hopper into a container and thereby moving the first barrier wall pair a selected distance into such a container; 
 (d) moving the material in the hopper into such a container positioned with the barrier wall pair inside it with each of the barrier walls of the barrier wall pair being proximate a wall of such a container; 
 whereby material contained in the hopper is deposited into such a container while the barrier wall pair is the selected distance inside such a container thereby to protect walls of such a container as the material is moved into such a container, 
 wherein the loading system further comprises a second barrier wall pair with barrier walls thereof hinged to respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair such that the barrier walls of the second barrier wall pair, and there is a step of rotating the second barrier walls to either an extended position to further extend the barrier wall assembly or to a folded position adjacent the respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the length of the first barrier wall pair is selected to accommodate being positioned into either a twenty foot or a forty foot container being loaded to protect the side walls of such a container during loading. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the combined length of the first and second barrier wall pairs is selected such that in the folded position a twenty foot container can be accommodated and in the extended position a forty foot container can be accommodated. 
     
     
       14. A method for loading a container comprising:
 (a) providing a combined hopper and attached barrier wall assembly loading system comprising; 
 a hopper, the hopper having spaced apart side walls and a floor, the side walls and the floor having a substantially co-equal length and defining a first end and a second end of the hopper, the second end being open for communication with a container for loading material from the hopper into the container; 
 first and second spaced apart barrier walls each having a selected length and each barrier wall being attached to the second end of one of the side walls of the hopper and extending lengthwise beyond the second end of the hopper toward a container thereby defining a first barrier wall pair; 
 (a) a motive force mechanism that moves the hopper toward a container; 
 (b) loading material, which is to be loaded into a container, into the hopper; 
 (c) relatively moving the hopper with respect to a container into a position to move material from the hopper into a container and thereby moving the first barrier wall pair a selected distance into such a container; 
 (d) moving the material in the hopper into such a container positioned with the barrier wall pair inside it with each of the barrier walls of the barrier wall pair being proximate a wall of such a container; 
 whereby material contained in the hopper is deposited into such a container while the barrier wall pair is the selected distance inside such a container thereby to protect walls of such a container as the material is moved into such a container, wherein the selected length of the first barrier wall is different from the selected length of the second barrier wall, and in the step of moving the material in the hopper into such a container, the first barrier wall extends a first distance into the hopper, and the second barrier wall extends less than the first distance into the hopper. 
 
     
     
       15. A system for loading a container in a manner that will protect sides of the container from being damaged by material being loaded in it during the loading process comprising:
 a loading system comprising;
 a hopper, the hopper having spaced apart side walls and a floor, the side walls and the floor having a substantially co-equal length and defining a first end and a second end of the hopper, the second end being open for communication with a container for loading material from the hopper into the container; 
 a barrier wall assembly comprising;
 first and second spaced apart barrier walls defining a first barrier wall pair, each having a selected length and being configured to fit into the hopper with the first and second barrier walls extending lengthwise of the hopper proximate respective side walls of the hopper; and 
 a ram attachable to the barrier wall pair at one or more selected points along the length of the barrier wall pair, the ram extending across the barrier wall pair and defining a load space as an area between the first barrier wall pair from of the ram toward the second end of the hopper; and 
 
 means for moving the barrier wall assembly so that the barrier wall pair extends beyond the second end of the hopper a selected distance into a container, the ram thereby pushing material contained in the load space from the hopper into such a container while the material remains substantially between the barrier walls and for moving the barrier wall assembly back into the hopper; 
 
 whereby material contained in the load space is deposited into a container while the barrier wall pair is the selected distance inside such a container thereby to protect walls of such a container as the material is moved into such a container, 
 further comprising a second barrier wall pair with barrier walls thereof hingedly connected to respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair such that the barrier walls of the second barrier wall pair can be rotated to either an extended position to further extend the barrier wall assembly or to a folded position adjacent the respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15  wherein the means for moving the barrier wall assembly comprises a rail system along the floor of the hopper with the first and second spaced apart barrier walls mounted on the rail system for moving the barrier wall assembly lengthwise of the hopper. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15  wherein the means for moving the barrier wall assembly is connected to the ram so as to push and pull the ram and thereby move the barrier wall assembly. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15  wherein the combined length of the first and second barrier wall pairs is selected such that in the folded position a 20 foot container can be accommodated and in the extended position a 40 foot container can be accommodated. 
     
     
       19. A system for loading a container in a manner that will protect sides of the container from being damaged by material being loaded in it during the loading process comprising:
 a loading system comprising; 
 a hopper, the hopper having spaced apart side walls and a floor, the side walls and the floor having a substantially co-equal length and defining a first end and a second end of the hopper, the second end being open for communication with a container for loading material from the hopper into the container, the hopper side walls defining a load space therein for receiving material to be loaded into a container; 
 a barrier wall assembly comprising first and second spaced apart barrier walls defining a first barrier wall pair, each having a selected length and being configured to fit into the hopper with the first and second barrier walls extending lengthwise of the hopper proximate respective side walls of the hopper; and 
 a ram for moving material in the hopper in a loading direction into a container, 
 whereby material contained in the load space is deposited into a container while the barrier wall pair is the selected distance inside such a container thereby to protect walls of such a container as the material is moved into such a container, 
 further comprising a second barrier wall pair with barrier walls thereof hingedly connected to respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair such that the barrier walls of the second barrier wall pair can be rotated to either an extended position to further extend the barrier wall assembly or to a folded position adjacent the respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair. 
 
     
     
       20. A system for loading a container in a manner that will protect sides of the container from being damaged by material being loaded in it during the loading process comprising:
 a loading system comprising; 
 a hopper, the hopper having spaced apart side walls and a floor, the side walls and the floor having a substantially co-equal length and defining a first end and a second end of the hopper, the second end being open for communication with a container for loading material from the hopper into the container, the hopper side walls defining a load space therein for receiving material to be loaded into a container; 
 a barrier wall assembly comprising first and second spaced apart barrier walls defining a first barrier wall pair, each having a selected length and being configured to fit into the hopper with the first and second barrier walls extending lengthwise of the hopper proximate respective side walls of the hopper; and 
 a ram for moving material in the hopper in a loading direction into a container, whereby material contained in the load space is deposited into a container while the barrier wall pair is the selected distance inside such a container thereby to protect walls of such a container as the material is moved into such a container, 
 wherein the first and second barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair are hinged to the ends of the side walls of the hopper. 
 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a second barrier wall pair with barrier walls thereof hingedly connected to respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair such that the barrier walls of the second barrier wall pair can be rotated to either an extended position to further extend the barrier wall assembly or to a folded position adjacent the respective barrier walls of the first barrier wall pair.